Two Britons ‘dead in Austria crash’

Police say two British men in their 20s have died after their auto broke through a guard rail on a high alpine road in Austria and tumbled 300 meters (nearly 1,000 feet) over steep terrain.

They said it was unclear if it was a pre-arranged illegal race or if the two cars had simply met by chance and decided to race each other around the steeply curving mountain road.

The Grossglockner, at more than 12,000ft, is Austria’s highest mountain, and the accident site is believed to be near the road’s highest point.

The vehicle was reportedly completely destroyed in the crash.

According to the Kronen Zeitung newspaper, they lost control of their vehicle on the hairpin road at the Fuscher Törl mountain pass, about 2,400m (7,874ft) above sea level.

The spokeswoman said the 22-year-old man was from the south east of England, but released no other personal details.

The driver of the Porsche, who initially fled the scene, later gave himself in at a police station, Austrian media reported.

The narrow, winding mountain pass leads from Bruck, near Salzburg, to the mountain.